One Direction ~ BSM & BSF & DDM

Harry (12) DDM - Dad

Y/n was helping her stepdad, Harry, with the grocery run and was efficiently checking off the items of the list he'd given her. The two were walking around the store together, Harry pushing the trolley and Y/n filling it up with necessities. When they'd gathered everything they needed, Harry lead the way to the checkout, where Y/n began unloading the trolley's contents onto the conveyer belt for the lady behind the register to scan. Just when she'd finished scanning the last of their items, Harry snuck in Y/n's favorite chocolate bar, sending her a wink and a small smile. Y/n grinned at her stepdad and shook her head, and the checkout lady witnessed the cute interaction.

"What a cool dad you have, huh?" She smiled at Y/n, who's happy expression instantly faded, her brow furrowing slightly and her eyes dropping to the floor. The lady quickly apologized as Harry paid for the groceries, able to sense the way both Y/n and Harry had tensed up in that short amount of time. Y/n took the keys from her stepdad's pocket and fled to the car, sliding into the passenger seat and leaving Harry to load the groceries back into the trolley and then into the boot of the car.

By the time Harry was sat in the driver's seat and had the car running, he noticed a few anxious tears escaping Y/n's eyes and running down her rosy cheeks. Y/n just pretended he wasn't there for the duration of the drive home, facing the window and roughly wiping back those stray tears she thought Harry hadn't seen. When they arrived at the house, Y/n tried to open her door and run inside, but Harry's soft touch on her arm stopped her, and she looked up at him.

"Y/n, will you tell me what's bothering you?" Harry asked her gently, waiting as she shut the car door again and sighed sadly, hugging her knees to her chest and hiding her face in them. It took her a long few moments to feel ready to open up, and Harry patiently gave her the time to.

"I don't know... I just- I wasn't sure if I wanted to let myself believe that you're my dad. Anybody I ever let in my life always leaves, and it hurts. You're all I have now that- now that mum's gone... I didn't want to get used to having you around and be hurt all over again when you go," Y/n mumbled, her voice cracking at the last word, and Harry reached across to dry the single tear that had just reached her chin.

"Darling, I won't ever leave you. I promise. We're together now, it's you and me. I'll always be around." Harry spoke softly, stroking her hair soothingly.

"That's what the other men said. Nobody keeps their promises." Y/n's words and heartbroken tone sent shivers of misery down Harry's spine, and he vowed to himself to never let anyone hurt his little girl, ever.

"I know it seems like you can't ever trust anybody who comes into your life, because they haven't been the kind of people you deserve to have in your life, but I want you to know that you'll always be my girl. No matter what happens in your life, I'll be right there beside you, holding your hand, and I won't ever let go. I love you so much, and, even if you don't think of me as your dad, I will forever consider you my daughter. Blood or not." Harry left the car and for a split second, Y/n felt her world break as she assumed he was leaving, until he opened her door and wrapped his arms around her.

"C'mon, let's get these groceries inside," Harry rubbed Y/n's back sweetly before breaking the hug and moving to the boot of the car to take the food inside.

Once the two of them had put away everything they'd bought, Y/n grabbed a pack of biscuits, threw herself onto the couch, got comfortable and wrapped herself in a blanket. She thought for a moment before calling out for Harry. "Harry?" 

Harry came around the corner with a wide smile on his lips, leaning against the entrance wall. "Yes, darling?" 

"Will you watch a movie with me?" Y/n smiled, patting the space beside her and opening the blanket once Harry made his way over to her. He sat down, tucked his daughter close to him and held her in such a way that she he'd always be with her.

"What're we watching?" Harry kissed Y/n's forehead softly, stroking her hair and hugging her to his side.

"How about... Fly Away Home?" Y/n suggested, playing with her fingers nervously. She had picked a movie that tied in with what she and Harry were going through, and she hoped he would see that and know that she was happy with him.

"That's a great choice," Harry grinned, cuddling her even closer and putting the movie on the tv. The movie played on until Y/n was sleepy and nuzzled into Harry's chest, her face buried in his t-shirt. 

"I love you, Dad." She fell asleep within seconds of murmuring the words Harry felt so overjoyed to hear, but just before she drifted off, she heard his heartfelt reply. 

"And I love you, my darling."